Onimusha: Blade Warriors

Onimusha: Blade Warriors is a spin-off from the main line of the series that abandons the adventure structure of previous entries and turns Onimusha into a pure-blooded arena fighting game. Characters from across the whole series step into the ring – from Samanosuke and Jubei to villains and side characters from earlier entries – and, as in similar fighting games, the player pits them against each other in one-on-one duels or multiplayer brawls for up to four players at once. Story ambitions take a back seat in favor of fast, arcade-style action focused mainly on flashy finishers and quick duels, without the lengthy storytelling players know from the series' main entries.

Each character carries their own fighting style and special abilities known from their 'home' games, which makes the game especially interesting for those who want to see how Samanosuke would fare against characters from later entries who never met him in the main series. The arenas are designed with destructible environments and flashy finishers in mind, building on the series' trademark parrying and fast combos, just without the adventure framework around it and without any need to solve puzzles or traverse large locations. The game thus works more as a collection of combat references for series fans than as a full-fledged story, and focuses purely on fighting mechanics and character variety. Various game modes also offer tournament matches and leaderboards, so even without a story the game has plenty to offer for repeated multiplayer sessions.

Why play it: Blade Warriors is more of a side treat for series fans than a full-fledged entry, but that's exactly why it makes sense as a standalone listing here – it's the only Onimusha title that works purely as a fighting game without a story campaign. It suits quick multiplayer sessions with a friend who want to duke it out with characters from their favorite entries, not players looking for another big demon-slaying adventure with an elaborate story and a vast world to explore.